Cost-of-Living Allowances (Nonforeign Areas); Commissary/Exchange Rates; Survey Frequency; Gradual Reductions

Résumé

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing interim regulations to implement recent amendments to Executive Order 10000 regarding nonforeign area cost-of-living allowances (COLAs). These regulations eliminate the separate COLA rate paid to Federal employees with commissary and exchange privileges; allow OPM to conduct COLA surveys less frequently; and permit OPM to reduce COLA rates gradually regardless of the cause of the reduction. These changes will accomplish several of the provisions agreed upon under a recent settlement of litigation concerning nonforeign area COLAs.